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(DEF Eb5 x688x6)
(DEF Bbm7 x13121)
(DEF B5 x244x2)
(DEF Ab5 466x44)
(DEF Gb 244322)
(DEF Ebm x68876)
(DEF Cb 799877)
(DEF Abm 466444)
(DEF Db 244322)
(DEF Gb5 244x22)
Verse 1
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
Snow can wait I forgot my mittens
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
wipe my nose get my new boots on
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
Get a little warm in my heart when I think of winter
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
I put my hand in my father's glove
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
I run off where the DRIFTS GET DEEPER
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Eb5
sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
I hear a voice "you must learn to stand up
Eb5 Bbm7 Cb5 Ab5
for yourself cause I can't always be around" he says
Chorus
Gb Ebm Cb
when you gonna make up your mind
Gb Ebm Cb
when you gonna love you as much as I do
Gb Ebm
when you gonna make up your mind
Cb Gb Cb
cause things are gonna CHANGE so fast
Cb Ebm Abm
all the white horses are still in bed
Abm Gb Cb
I tell you that I'll always want you near
Cb Ebm Db Ebm
you say that things change my dear
Repeat chords of Verse 1
boys get discovered as winter MELTS
flowers competing for the sun
years go by and I'm here still waiting
withering where some snowman was
mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
but I only can see myself
SKATING around the truth who I am
but I know Dad the ice is getting thin
Repeat Chorus
Verse 2
Eb5 Gb Gb5 Ab5
hair is grey and the fires are burning
Eb5 Gb Gb5 Ab5
so many dreams on the shelf
Eb5 Gb Gb5 Ab5
you say I wanted you to be PROUD
Eb5 Gb Gb5 Ab5
I always wanted that myself he says
Chorus 2
Gb Ebm Cb
when you gonna make up your mind
Gb Ebm Cb
when you gonna love you as much as I do
Gb Ebm
when you gonna make up your mind
Ebm Cb Gb Cb
cause things are gonna change so fast
Cb Ebm Abm
all the WHITE HORSES have gone ahead
Abm Gb Cb
I tell you that I'll always want you near
Cb Ebm Db Ebm
you say that things change my dear
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
Kenny Lead Player |
#1 by Kenny Berg at Oct 1, 2007 at 3:59 PM EST |
| To me, this song is about growing up. The lyrics is written in a sort of way that you get the feeling that there is two different persons speaking about the subject. In the beginning of the song, the lines "Snow can wait, I forgot my mittens" and "I put my hand in my fathers glove" makes me think of a little girl who is going out into the snow, togethet with her father. But the winter can't come just yet, because she doesn't have her mittens, because thing aren't like they used to be. As the song advances, we hear "You must learn to stand up for yourself, 'cause I can't always be around". I have myself experienced the same words, and they make me think about not being prtected by somebody stronger than yourself anymore. But when you suddenly have to stand all alone, you get afraid, and can't make decisions. You start to dislike yourself and can't love yourself. Hence the lines "He says when you gonna make up your mind" "When you gonna love you as much as I do". As the girl grows, when springs come she starts to discover boys, as "boys get discovered as winter melts", but the girl doesn't want to grow up, she doesn't want things to change, even though they are, and they are changing fast. Tough she stands still, hoping for things to be like they were all those the winters spent with her father. "Mirror Mirror, where's the crystal palace?" Where is the handsome prince who will take her to his castle on his white stallion? "All the white horses" means the same, that reality isn't like the fantasy world we'd all like to live in. All she can see is herself, pretending to be something she has started to grow away from. She is "skating around the truth who I am" and trying to avoid her inner self. But "the ice is getting thin", she can't pretend like this much longer. "When you gonna make up your mind? When you gonne love you as much as I do?" The other person incline and tell her to make up her mind about who she want's to be, before it's too late. She should accept who she is and love herself for that. She starts to grow, starts to grow out of her old home, but tells the person that she'll "always want you near", but the other person shakes it head and says "that things are going to change, my dear". The narrative then changes to the other person, who already have grown up a long time ago "hair is gray" but still feels it "the fires are burning", because the person waited too long, wasn't true to themselves and thus missed the chance of doing something great "so many dreams on the shelf". The girl say that she wanted the person to be proud of her, but that's exactly what the person wanted, and had worked for so long. | |
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No Picture
December Underg Average |
#2 by December Underground at Oct 2, 2007 at 9:37 PM EST |
| "mirror mirror, where's the crystal palace" The song is about her being addicted to speed. I mean the whole thing w/her father makes sense too, and I think that's part of it, but like she talks about wiping her nose and the "ice" getting thin...If u look at it, it all makes sense | |
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No Picture
Emdizzy foshizz Lead Player |
#3 by Emdizzy foshizzy at Oct 4, 2007 at 4:56 AM EST |
| this was the first tori song i ever heard....like 7 years ago...and still a favourite. The most intriging part of the song is, or i think is....that i noticed no one else picked up on....was "You say I wanted you to be proud of me I always wanted that myself" that's her father saying that He always wanted her to be proud of him.... and her saying that she always wanted to be proud of her dad as well... beautiful tori | |
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The MADMAN Average |
#4 by The MADMAN All the way at Oct 4, 2007 at 1:13 PM EST |
| i think this song is about tori and her father, him telling her that she needs to grow up and make up her mind about the future, but no matter what he'll always love her and want her near, such a pretty song!! | |
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nathan Average |
#5 by nathan skidmore at Oct 4, 2007 at 2:42 PM EST |
| One of the few songs to actually give me chills. I think everyone has this kind of relationship with their fathers, which is why it's so sad, and truthful. Tori is a genius, and songs like this make me wish i could play the piano | |
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bradley Wanna Be |
#6 by bradley goodman at Oct 5, 2007 at 4:41 PM EST |
| Women have a deeper understanding of underlying feelings I believe. This is one of the many examples. It's too bad women are so often controlled by agression... such an easy tactic yielding no solution... | |
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Chris Badass |
#7 by Chris Phillips at Oct 5, 2007 at 11:06 PM EST |
| every time I listen to this song I feel like my emotions are exploding inside. I feel like crying... I love you Tori | |
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julius Average |
#8 by julius vaisanen at Oct 6, 2007 at 12:17 PM EST |
| this is by far my favorite tori amos song. she starts out in the song as a young girl who adores her father, and he tells her that she needs to be her own person and follow her dreams. she tells him that she "always want him near" and he gently tells her that "things change." he predicts what happens in the second verse. she grows up and gets wrapped up in her life, trying to make her father proud of her. but she soon forgets about the dreams they shared and starts living for herself. she loses the vision of the "crystal palace" and only sees herself. this takes its toll and she then remembers the words of her father. "grey hair" symbolizes her father's age...and the dreams that they shared are still on the shelf, untouched and unlived. she talks to him and discovers that while he wanted her to be proud of him...it was what he wanted from him all these years. it is my belief that the father dies. the "white horses" symbolize heavenly angels, and in the first part of the song, they are still in bed, sleeping...waiting. then at the end, they've "gone ahead." this plainly means that they've taken him with them. this is a lamentation on the wasted years that occured. things did change, so fast...and they lost themselves in their search for the other's approval. in the first chorus, the father says "when you gonna love you as much as i do" and in the second chorus, the daughter says this. this leans toward the idea that they were both wrapped up in their own life at one point. and lastly, in her grief, tori states at the end "never change" in reflection of the wasted years. (i realize all of this information is jumbled up, however, i feel i have a few valid points). | |
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Trevor Average |
#9 by Trevor fun with drugs at Oct 6, 2007 at 8:52 PM EST |
| For me this songs means change yet the person has a hard time letting go of those memories. The first time I heard this song I was in chills and I can't stop playing it more and more especially when I'm lonely | |
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No Picture
Josh Average |
#10 by Josh Braun at Oct 8, 2007 at 1:28 PM EST |
| The small piano lick in the beginning is from an olde song/hymn/seasonal ditty entitled Breath Of Heaven. | |
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KELSO Wanna Be |
#11 by KELSO Is a COOL kid at Oct 8, 2007 at 11:02 PM EST |
| This is my absolute favorite Tori song ever... every song has a different meaning for every person, but I see this as havign so many dreams and not having life living up to that. And also, not loving yourself as much as you deserve as seen through the eyes of someone else. My favorite line? "When gonna love you as much as I do?" Aaaahhhh... Tori... | |
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No Picture
leester Professional |
#12 by leester at Oct 9, 2007 at 8:48 PM EST |
| I think the line "the ice is getting thin" is a metaphor. It means time is running out. That if you keep going in circles "skating" in the same place,instead of moving ahead you will fall through "the ice". | |
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The REAL Godfat Average |
#13 by The REAL Godfather at Oct 10, 2007 at 2:07 PM EST |
| I've always thought this was about her and her father. The imagery in this song is amazing. Maybe the daughter is having some problems, and she feels like she can never measure up to her father. | |
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No Picture
Joey Wanna Be |
#14 by Joey at Oct 11, 2007 at 12:12 AM EST |
| AriLuvsSondheim said: "mirror mirror, where's the crystal palace" The song is about her being addicted to speed. ..... but like she talks about wiping her nose and the "ice" getting thin..." That's a very interesting take on it. Personally, I think "Mirror, mirror" would probably refer to children's fairy tales. As would the crystal palace. Didn't all little girl envision themselves to be princesses? And when you grew up and realized it wasn't what you thought it would be, didn't you say "Hey...! Wait a minute...!" ? The song is definately about her father. He takes a part in so much of her work. I think it's so great that so many of you chose this as your favorite. It's so fascinating to read everyone's take on the same song.... :) | |
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bethan Average |
#15 by bethan jones at Oct 11, 2007 at 2:41 AM EST |
| Song about a "daddy's little girl" who ends up as a spinster (the grey hair refers to her) because she never grew up enough to see the World outside the childish domain that she grew up in. | |
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Darren Wanna Be |
#16 by Darren Pilton at Oct 11, 2007 at 3:23 AM EST |
| I sent these lyrics tomy former girfriend along with a poem I had written for her. She slapped me the next time I saw her! Actually, she didn't physically slap me, but her words felt like a slap! Beautiful song anyways! Weird how the artists who write the best lyrics are always in so much pain, or so it seems! (Except John Lennon)! | |
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joel Average |
#17 by joel christman at Oct 11, 2007 at 8:50 AM EST |
| Well, I think the song starts with a narrative of her as a child. It's told through the eyes of a child, too. Her imaginary friend, Sleeping Beauty, trips her up. She's growing older and Sleeping Beauty is getting in the way. Her father tells her that she has to be strong because he won't be there to protect her. Ok, for the white horses part. I looked it up and supposedly, white means energy. Horses mean a happy life, being prosperous. The bed part means rest. So basically, the good things haven't come yet, they're waiting. Then she always wants him there, because he's a source of love and protection and he replys that she won't always. The "race for boys" starts; she begins to mature. She might be sort of a "wallflower" because she's left alone with her past. She might be waiting because she still is attached to her father, one can't be sure. She looks in the mirror and she wants the Crystal Palace. Now, in Victorian England, the Crystal Palace was an exposition hall made by her husband, Albert. It was made to show off English technology. So, she's asking herself where she can see the good in the world, but she only sees herself. In other words, she doesn't feel too good about herself. She's not being herself, she's just running about in circles. She knows that it is time to change, however. Ok, I looked up the next line, and (unliterally) the whole "hair is gray.." part would mean that she's been careless and she's going through a transition. She also is passionate about being renewed. (This is waaayyy out there) She's not paying attention to what's going on around her, she's changing and she's more interested in the changing rather than focusing on something else... maybe due to a sexual experience, idk. Her father always wanted her to be proud of him, and she always wanted him to be proud of her. Maybe this is talking about her rape. It makes sense to me... Because she was raped, all the good things have passed her up. Maybe because she wasn't true to herself, the good in her life has gone ahead, becoming unreachable. I know this is WAAAYY more than y'all wanted, but it's such a good song, and I get a lot out of it, so bear with me. :) | |
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Lex Average |
#18 by Lex Nafrodosze at Oct 11, 2007 at 1:10 PM EST |
| My gosh, this is an awesome song. This is my favorite by her. I think it's about growing up and knowing that you have to figure out life for yourself even though you want your father to be there to save you still. Life isn't gonna stop and wait for you to figure things out so you have to hurry because time is running out-- hence the lines "Mirror mirror where’s the crystal palace But I can only see myself Skating around the truth who I am But I know the Ice is getting thin When you gonna make up your mind When you gonna love you as much as I do When you gonna make up your mind Cause things are gonna change so fast" | |
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eric Rhythm Player |
#19 by eric christian at Oct 11, 2007 at 11:51 PM EST |
| I get something slightly different out of the song actually. To me "Winter" by Tori Amos is about a father telling his daughter that he is going to die and that she has to live life without him. "Winter" is a song about the death of a dad. In the beginning she emphasizes that she is very close to her dad and that she needs him and his way of protecting her. - "I put my hands in my father’s glove.." the whole chorus is like a dialogue between father and daughter. the dad says she needs to realize who she is and she needs to understand what a great person she is. this , however, also shows her lack of self-esteem and her dad tries to fix it by saying "When you gonna love you as much as I do" "Cause things are gonna change so fast"- he won't be able to be with her for the rest of her life. things will change when he is not around anymore. "All the white horses are still in bed" is the most significant expression of the song to me. the white horses are a symbol for his death. if I picture white horses, i see white horses running at night. horses are associated with running, therefore with "leaving". the fact that the horses are not black though underlines the tone of the song. you could call it the beauty of a tragedy even though that is something people do not realize or atleast it takes a while to realize that the death of your father changes your life and if you want it to be, it can be for the better because indeed you need to start believing in something or you will be broken for the rest of your life. the love you feel for your father is overwhelming and even though you might think now it is not worth anything anymore, you realize at some point that a feeling as strong as this cannot be useless. the second verse is obviously about growing up and in the end she says " But I know the Ice is getting thin" which means to me that she knows the older they both become, the closer death is. when she sings -"Hair is gray and the fire is burrnig so many dreams on the shelf" she basically says again that she is aware of the fact that her father is getting older and that all the dreams he has and maybe both of them have won't come true since his time is running out. "You say I wanted you to be proud of me I always wanted that myself" sounds to me like he tells her just how important she is to him. and if she says "I always wanted that myself" it is as if she'd say "I wanted you to be proud of me" to her dad. so it doesnt mean that she wanted to be proud of her dad, but that she wanted her dad to be proud of her. that way it makes a lot more sense. infact it only underlines their relationship and how close they are. in the end the white horses are no longer "still in bed"; "All the white horses have gone ahead" means he left this world. in the very end she sings "never change": things might change and he is not around anymore but her love cannot be taken away. that way, things change but her feelings and memories do not change. ever. death cannot part people, it can even get them closer to each other even though it hurts that the person you lost is not around anymore. this song reminds me of my dad. i wish he would have had the chance to tell me these things. everything happened too fast and totally out of the blue and..just too early. every time i listen to this song, i see both of us walking through a forest at night. | |
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Tyler Average |
#20 by Tyler Hutchison at Oct 14, 2007 at 4:36 PM EST |
| wow its amazing to see everyone different views on it..especially the AriLuvsSondheim one....i agree with andshedied, when tori says "mirror mirror wheres the crystal palace", i think its again refering to sleeping beauty, how the queen would look in the mirror and expect to see her perfection, in the song tori says where's my perfect crystal palace? i only can see myself, as in she doesnt realy know what kind of life shes leading, skating around the truth who i am, (trying to find myself), but i know dad the ice is getting thin, i think the thin ice means that she knows she'll eventually have to find herself and do something with her life . | |
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austin Rhythm Player |
#21 by austin ballard at Oct 16, 2007 at 10:10 AM EST |
| I also tend to AriLuvsSondheim's interpretation...but moreover I listen to the song because of its great piano...the line when she sings "when you gonna make up your mind, when you gonna love you as much as I do ? When you gonna make up your mind - coz things are gonna change so fast" always knocks me off | |
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black Rhythm Player |
#22 by black rose at Oct 16, 2007 at 2:56 PM EST |
| This song is close to my heart. It reminds me of my first girlfriend. Winter was a down time for her, miserable to say the least. She lost her father at a young age and from what she's told me about him, he'd sound alot like the father figure in this song. And the line "Boys get discovered as winter melts" hold a special significance to me. As i was discovered in march, as well as discarded the next year. It's more or less a progression of a life, not necessarily a specific person, but it's erily close to my first love. Cameron | |
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Francesco Lead Player |
#23 by Francesco DeVito at Oct 17, 2007 at 11:34 PM EST |
| I know in the album sleeve of "Tales of a Librarian" it says it's about...astrology or something? I dunno. But I always saw it as being about childhood and growing up, yeah. To do with her dad. It's such an amazing song, probably my favourite of hers. | |
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Josh Average |
#24 by Josh Sanchez at Oct 18, 2007 at 10:49 AM EST |
| this song made me cry the first time i heard it because it reminded me of how much my dad loves me, but i was pushing him away to be something i wanted so bad. | |
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Travis Wanna Be |
#25 by Travis Alford at Oct 19, 2007 at 6:42 PM EST |
| i am still young but sometimes i can't help but wonder that one day when i get old- i will sit and think, what a waste of potential. -"So many dreams on the shelf" I just feel this is the problem of parental love- a case where too much of it can be paralyzing, every father/ mother has to somehow build their childs self-esteem and confidence because they won't always be there- "I tell you that I’ll always want you near You say that things change my dear." Sometimes i feel that parental love is intoxicating. anyhow. This song is wonderful- a coming of age song i should say. When you are young everything is so clear and then you must face the self-doubt and the journey to the self is solitary- and this song reflects the fear we have of never finding that- of "Skating around the truth who I am" forever in a figure eight- tracing the infinite. Tori is a genius. | |
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